Applications for Scottish EDGE, the UK’s largest business funding competition, open today. Last year saw a total of 240 applications and organisers are hoping for even more this year.

Funding prizes will be awarded at a full day of final pitching on 29th May. The winners will be announced at the newly-introduced awards dinner on 14th June.

Additionally, two deserving businesses – one within the science, technology or engineering sector and another within the creative sector – will be awarded the special Higgs EDGE and Creative EDGE awards, carrying potential prize offerings of up to £150,000 and £100,000 respectively.

Application Process

Applications to Scottish EDGE Round 12 will be accepted through the competition online portal until 7^th March. Applicants must submit a completed online application and a short three minute video pitch.

Submissions will then be assessed by a number of independent expert panels before being shortlisted to participate in a Scottish EDGE semi-final or the final of subsidiary competition categories such as Young EDGE (open to founders under the age of 30) or Wild Card EDGE (open to pre-revenue-generating companies).

To be successful businesses must demonstrate innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, business growth potential, customer focus, how the funds will be used and risk awareness.

Nurturing Scottish talent

Scottish EDGE plays an essential role in nurturing new Scottish talent. Over its past 11 rounds, Scottish EDGE has awarded over £10 million to startup businesses throughout Scotland. Past winners (including Callum Smeaton of TV Squared and Leah Hutcheon of Appointedd) have collectively generated an additional £79.78m in turnover and created 2214 jobs.

The key dates for Scottish EDGE Round 12 are as follows:

• 31st January 2018 – Application window opens
• 7th March 2018 – Application window closes at 2.00pm
• 21st March 2018 to 5th April 2018 – 1st stage assessments undertaken
• 11th April 2018 – 1st stage Assessments results sent out
• 25th April 2018 – Wild Card EDGE Final
• 1st/2nd/3rd May 2018 – Scottish EDGE Semi Finals
• 9th May 2018 – Young EDGE Final
• 29th May 2018 – Scottish EDGE Final – Live Pitches
• 14th June 2018 – Scottish EDGE Final – Awards Ceremony

Scottish EDGE CEO Evelyn McDonald told DIGIT: “Just two months after awarding over £1 million to 38 businesses in our 11th round, we are kicking-off 2018 by inviting Scotland’s next wave of innovative startups to apply for Scottish EDGE funding and support.

“Our recently completed Cutting EDGE video project captured the emotional and rewarding journey experienced by those who come in to Scottish EDGE, as well as the life-changing impact that providing that much-needed growth capital can have. We look forward to sharing that with you throughout this round.

“Having received a total of 240 excellent applications in our last competition round, we expect the standard of the competition to be high. I wish everyone applying for EDGE 12 the very best of luck and I can’t wait to see the exciting business ideas that come our way.”

For more information on the Scottish EDGE competition visit scottishedge.com.